Anna V. Song

Anna V. Song is an Associate Professor of Health Psychology at the University of California, Merced, where she directs the Nicotine and Cannabis Policy Center (NCPC). Her research focuses on psychosocial factors influencing health risk behaviors, particularly tobacco, marijuana, and e-cigarette use in rural California communities.

• Education: PhD & MA in Psychology (UC Davis, 2006 & 2002), BA in Psychology & Political Science (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1998)
• Key research areas: Tobacco/Cannabis Policy, Community-Engaged Research, Health Equity, Psychological Determinants of Risk Behaviors

Her lab collaborates with San Joaquin Valley health departments and community organizations to develop policy-informing research. Current projects examine how risk perceptions, social norms, and policy environments shape health decisions. She has mentored graduate researchers like Deanna Halliday and Allison Temourian, whose work includes tobacco waste analysis and behavioral studies.

Recent publications explore nicotine addiction perceptions (2025), e-cigarette warning effectiveness (2025), and flavored tobacco policy implementation (2024). The NCPC, funded by a $3.8M TRDRP award, focuses on reducing tobacco-related diseases through community workshops and data-driven policy advocacy in 11 Central Valley counties.